Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to update, upgrade or modernise the Defence Forces as a result of recent proposals to dispose of military installations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36435/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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In keeping with the commitments in the White Paper on Defence it is intended that the Defence Forces will continue to be modernised over the coming years. Any revenue accruing from the disposal of surplus Defence property will be used to finance equipment acquisition and infrastructure projects within the Defence Forces.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Defence the persons to whom it is intended to dispose of the various military installations which he proposed to close as announced in budget 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36436/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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No decision has been made yet on the disposal of these Barracks. However, in keeping with Government policy the proceeds of any disposal will be reinvested in the Defence Forces.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which he has studied the social, economic and strategic defence implications arising from his decision to close a number of military installations here; if his attention has been drawn to the likely implications for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36437/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective of the White Paper on Defence. The proposals announced in the Budget have been developed in full consultation with the military authorities. The dispersal of personnel over an extended number of locations is a major impediment to essential collective training. It also imposes increased and unnecessary overheads on the Defence Forces in terms of barrack management, administration, maintenance and security. The consolidation process is designed to facilitate higher training standards, while also freeing up under-utilised resources and personnel for operational duties. As such, there are significant benefits from an economic, social and strategic context for Defence in the implementation of the current programme.